UOHI is pleased to congratulate Irene Guzman Soto, PhD (Research Staff) and David Messika-Zeitoun, MD (Investigator) as the recipients of the 2024 UOHI EDI in Research Awards. These awards recognize investigators and staff who are raising the bar for research excellence and thriving research environments. Nominees were identified by their peers for challenging the status quo, sparking change and taking action to reduce persistent systemic barriers, thereby expanding our research impact or team effectiveness. These two awardees are distinguished by their passion and commitment to better research design, and/or a better workplace, reducing barriers to access and inclusion of under-represented groups as research partners, participants, team members or peers.
Dr. Irene Guzman Soto’s many roles reflect the breadth of impact she is having across our research system. As Manager of the BEaTS Laboratory led by Drs. Emilio Alarcon & Erik Suuronen, she developed a manual and a series of interventions to create a truly accessible environment for the whole team. From day 1 of the launch of a new multi-institutional INTBIOTECH CREATE Training Program, Dr. Guzman was the project manager in charge of putting together and deploying an accessible and equitable training program. For example, she developed an application system for students that reduces biases in hiring and has been instrumental in the training activities provided to 50+ students within the program and hundreds more beyond. These supports range from research and professional skills training workshops to a structured open-access book designed for students to improve their reading skills.
Last year, Dr. Guzman took on the challenge of assembling the inclusion, diversity, equity, accessibility, and social justice (IDEAS) portfolio for the Brain Heart Interconnectome (BHI). Her exceptional leadership enabled the creation of BHI’s first IDEAS events and the articulation of one of the most comprehensive IDEAS action plans ever seen in Ottawa. She was at the heart of connecting people of different ways of life together to work with the common objective of "creating a better research microcosmos," for everyone, with everyone. More recently, thanks to her exceptional leadership, Dr. Alarcon’s team was awarded an EnaBling grant from the Government of Ontario, which has already trained +100 students in experiential aspects of accessibility and ableism. Dr. Guzman’s nominator concluded that “Her resilience, determination, and compassion make her a role model for all of us. I have learned so much from Irene.”
Dr. David Messika-Zeitoun has shown unwavering dedication to addressing the underdiagnosis, undertreatment, and late referral of VHD patients, with a particular emphasis on sex inequities and underserved communities.
He has uncovered significant gaps in the management of VHD patients, highlighting disparities in diagnosis and treatment based on age, sex, race, socio-economic status, and geographical areas. Women, in particular, often present later in the disease course, are less likely to be referred for curative interventions, and experience higher operative mortality rates and lower long-term survival. Endorsed by the CCS Working Group, CCS Advocacy Group, and the Canadian Society of Echocardiography, Dr. Messika-Zeitoun is preparing a national survey targeting all Canadian Laboratories of Echocardiography, to evaluate the adequacy between supply and demand in echocardiography, waiting times, disparities, and inequities in access nationally.
Dr. Messika-Zeitoun has developed a mobile screening program for VHD in the community to provide early detection and appropriate monitoring. The mobile unit brings screening to underserved communities, reducing the need for participants to travel and increasing access to care. In the first eighteen months, it screened more than 1,800 participants across more than 50 locations in the region, including seniors’ community centers, healthcare community centers, subsidized housing facilities, churches, retirement homes, malls and First Nations. Developed in partnership with patients living with VHD, the program emphasizes sensitivity to culture and diverse populations. Co-implemented with community leaders, it provides special clinics dedicated to underserved groups and rural areas to create a safe space for disadvantaged women, minorities, and vulnerable populations. Dr. Messika-Zeitoun has also partnered with various organizations, including the Social Planning Council of Ottawa and the community of Algonquins of Pikwakanagan, to ensure the program’s success. These partnerships have facilitated targeted promotion to key communities and provided translation services for participants.
Congratulations Drs. Guzman and Messika-Zeitoun for your outstanding contributions to strengthening our community and our research impact!